Pridgeon Stadium renovations kick off

Pridgeon Stadium's football field received an artificial turf upgrade in 2012.

Pridgeon Stadium's football field received an artificial turf upgrade in 2012.

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Photo: Handout

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Pridgeon Stadium's football field received an artificial turf upgrade in 2012.

Pridgeon Stadium's football field received an artificial turf upgrade in 2012.

Photo: Handout

Pridgeon Stadium renovations kick off

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The planned improvement of Cy-Fair ISD's Pridgeon Stadium facilities kicked off this summer with a parking lot upgrade.

The $40 million construction package, which is part of a $1.2 billion bond approved in May of last year, includes a new state-of-the-art natatorium, new press box and other stadium renovations.

"You want to be excellent in everything you do – academics, athletics, facilities – and that's what we're able to do for our student-athletes, our students and our communities," Cypress Falls football coach Kirk Eaton said. "I'm proud to be a part of that. It makes you want to get out of bed and go to work every day knowing this district is going to provide you everything you need to be successful.

"That's what they're doing right now."

Parking lot

The work on the parking lot began soon after the school year ended.

It includes an improved concrete surface, more efficient LED lighting and better access to surrounding roads.

"One of the big things we've done is add entrances and exits to allow for people to get in and out a lot easier and safer," said Dillon Brady, assistant superintendent for facilities and construction. "With the new lighting, it's going to make it a lot better for people and pedestrians who are walking to the various evening events, especially the football games and what-not, come this fall.

"We've also added, on the north end of the parking lot, dedicated partitions … so that the bands and busses for the players can park with their equipment, in semis and busses, off to the side, and not be in where all the parents and everybody else is going, which is going to keep our kids safe."

The parking lot construction also includes improved drainage, partly in preparation for the planned natatorium.

The work is expected to be completed next month.

"We have a 7-on-7 summer league and last year we rotated it between Berry and Pridgeon, and we haven't been able to use Pridgeon at all this summer, but there will be no impact on the games in the fall," Eaton said.

Facelift begins this fall

The stadium's facelift, which will give it a look similar to the Berry Center, is slated to begin by October.

This phase includes a new, multi-story press box to accommodate the growing number of media members, coaches and other VIPs – Cy-Fair ISD expects to open its 11th and 12th high school by the start of the 2017-18 school year – renovated entrances and ticket booths, and a new band staging area.

Completion is anticipated by August, 2016.

"We're going to build (the press box) on the exterior of the existing stadium, and basically it's going to look like it's part of the stadium but it's going to be a stand-alone structure," Brady said. "That way the existing press box can continue functioning as normal. And then when we get to that point, we're going to demo the press box and it's going to be a really nice lookout (or) maintenance shelf, if you will, kind of a balcony."

Pridgeon received new artificial turf and stadium lighting three years ago.

Making a splash

The grandest addition planned for the stadium grounds is the competition swimming and diving complex, including an eight-lane, 50-meter pool partitioned for cross completion races and water polo.

"The district is in desperate need of a natatorium, and the one it looks like they're building on Facebook is fantastic."

The district currently uses Cy Ranch's pool for big events.

But with 10 schools bringing 16 boys and 16 girls each to the district meet, plus coaches and officials, it's already crowded.

"We've got 10 teams, and with the one they built at Ranch, there is a warm-up area but you can't really practice starts or anything off that," Chandler said. "Seating there for a district meet is just packed.

"So this will give us more seating, more pool space (and) more deck space."

It's also giving the district's swimmers and coaches a growing sense of anticipation and excitement.

Construction, once approved by the board – likely at its September meeting – is expected to begin by October. With the facility situated at the south end of the parking lot, it will not affect football.

Chandler's hoping to use the pool by January, 2017 – just in time for districts.

"We still love Bleyl (Middle School) … and that's not tongue-and-check," Chandler said. "That is the absolute truth. The kids love going there and working out (and) it's close to school.

"But, as far as the new building, that's just it – it's something new. It's something we get to break in and hopefully be the first district boys and girls team to win a title there the first year. That would be ideal."